Flood-fence



(No Model.)

J. A. DAVIS.

FLOOD FENCE.'

Patented Feb. Z4, 1891.

YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN A. DAvIs, or BUFFALO, MissoURi.

FLOOD-FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,852, dated February 24, 1891.

Application filed October 21,1890. Serial No. 368,810. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN A. DAvIs, a citizen of the United States, residing atl Buffalo, in the county of Dallas and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Flood-Fence, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in Hood-fences which are adapted for use in a stream, on the side banks thereof, or on the ground, its objects being to provide a fence that is durable, cheap, simple, and effective.

To these ends my invention consists in certain features of novelty to be hereinafter described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing two sills joined at an angle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail face view of one of the pickets and its supportingposts, and Fig. 3 is a side view thereof on the same scale.

1 1 are the sills, which in Fig. 1 areshown as joined at an obtuse angle at 2, said sills resting in the bottom of the stream, on the banks thereof, or on the ground. In use the angle 2 would be presented toward the current of the stream.

The sills are provided with a series of openings or sockets 3, which receive the tenons 4 of the short Vertical posts 5,- said sockets being preferably arranged at equal distances apart. The tenons of the posts are set on one side of the lower ends of the posts, so as to provide shoulders G. The posts are made fiat, and pivoted thereto on each side by means of pins or bolts 7 are cheek-pieces 8, between which at their upper ends areriixed the pickets 9, parallel therewith. The posts are made wider than the cheek-pieces and the pickets to provide for a series of transverse perforations 10, which receive one or more break-pins 11, extending beyond the sides of the post and preventing the pickets from falling over under ordinary circumstances at that side of the post, whereas the pickets are prevented from falling over on the opposite sides of the lpost by beveling or inclining the lower ends of the pickets, as shown at 12, Fig. 3, the tops of the posts being correspondinglybeveled or inclined at 14. To show the meeting beveled ends of the posts and pickets aportion of the cheek-piece shown in Fig. 3 is broken away.

Then in use, the shoulders 6 of the posts 5 will be presented away from the current, as will also the break-pins, so that the pressure of the drift-wood' when brought to bear on the pickets will depress them after breaking p ins 11 and turn them over on their pivots` permitting the drift-wood to pass without damage to the fence. If desired, a single sill may rest in the bottom of the stream and extend across it. lVhen the sill extends directly across the stream, the posts are placed in position so as to extend across the sills at right angles thereto, whereas when the sills are set as shown in Fig. 1 the posts stand bias thereof.

The pickets may have wire nails 15 driven therein, as shown in Fig. 3, to act as barbs to keepstock from'pushing against them.

The sills may be of sawed timber or ordinary rough logs, or the logs maybe split in two with the fiat sides down and resting on the bottom of the stream or on the ground Wherever used. The cheek-pieces S may be made of a common fl'atfence-picket sawed in two. The pickets 9 may be the ordinary dat fence-picket, and the lower end thereof, instead of being beveled, lnay be concaved, as is apparent. The sills provide an anchorage for the fence at the bottom of a stream.

A flood fence constructed as above described will resist the stream less than any other dood-fence of which I am aware, and will atl the same time withstand ordinary pressure. Each picket, it will be observed,is independent of the other, so that all things strikin g with any force will pass without damage. Any person can construct the above-described fence who can use an ax anda saw.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a flood-fence, the combination of a supportingsill, posts thereon, independent pickets pivoted to said posts, and a break-pin sustaining each Vpicket normally in upright position,substantial1y as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a flood-fence, the combination of a supporting-sill, posts thereon having tenons at one side fitting in sockets in the sill, said posts also having in rear of said tenons shoulders resting on the sill, independent pickets pivotally connected to said posts forward of IOO sill, posts provided with tenons seated in sockets in said sill, cl1eekpieces pivoted at each side of said posts, said posts being of greater width than said cheek-pieces and being provided with perforations in rear thereof, breakpins inserted in said peri'orations, and independent pickets iixed between said cheekpieces, the lower ends of said pickets and the upper ends of said posts being eorrespondingly beveled, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a Hood-fence, the combination, with a supporting-sill and independent pickets prejecting therefrom at intervals, of breakable pins for retaining said pickets in vertical position in an ordinary current, but permitting them to move in and by the force of a swift current, substantially asv liereinbefore described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as inyown I have hereto aihxed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. DAVIS.

\\'i tnesses:

.L W. DUnINo'roN, ,Tous F. Doria. 

